The Phillies Zone

CHICAGO -- So it's hot. Really hot. On my walk to the L, a bank sign read 95 degrees. And it was 10:24 a.m. The heat index is supposed to feel somewhere around 115 degrees during the height of the afternoon, and it just so happens Vance Worley will be on the mound then.

Worley deals in self-deprecating humor and I joked with him Tuesday that he'd at least be able to lose a few pounds during his outing. "But I'll just put it all back on," he said. "Bad genes."

Then he laughed. But hydrating is no laughing matter, of course, especially after what happened with Roy Halladay on Monday. Worley sweats a lot when he pitches. He said he began hydrating Monday and the athletic training staff has kept tabs on his fluid levels ever since.

(As an aside, Halladay actually just finished a bullpen session in the heat. Looked fine.)

Righthander Jason Grilli has exercised his out clause and will sign a major-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Grilli's situation was much like Brian Gordon's. He had a clause that called for his release if another team was interested in immediately promoting him to the majors. The Phillies had a chance to match that but declined.

Grilli, 34, had a 1.93 ERA in 32 2/3 innings for triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. He has not pitched in the majors since 2009.